Asia Cup 2022: 5 Sri Lanka players to watch out for

Sri Lanka will be looking to give a tough competition to the other five teams in the upcoming Asia Cup 2022. The Lankans will face Afghanistan in the curtain-raiser at the Dubai International Stadium on August 27.

Days ahead of the tournament, the five-time champions suffered a major setback after pace spearhead Dushmantha Chameera was ruled out due to an injury. Despite that, they have some good quality players. Without further ado, here’s a look at five of them.

1. Dasun Shanaka

Dasun Shanaka has been one of the most valuable assets in Sri Lankan cricket for the last few years. Shanaka has the ability to be among the wickets with his well-disguised yorkers. Apart from making the ball do the talking, he can also be a very handy batter and score some vital runs lower down the order.

2. Wanindu Hasaranga

Wanindu Hasaranga needs no introduction. The smart leggie has the ability to provide key breakthroughs in the middle overs and can make the opposition batters press the panic button during any phase of the game. Hasaranga had an outstanding IPL 2022 where he finished as the second-highest wicket-taker registering 26 scalps for the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

3. Charith Asalanka

Charith Asalanka is one of the most promising batters for Sri Lanka in the shortest format. In fact, he was Lanka’s highest run-getter in the last year’s T20 World Cup, having amassed 231 runs averaging 46.20 and a strike rate of 147.13. Asalanka would be responsible for taking care of Sri Lanka’s middle-order in Asia Cup 2022.

4. Chamika Karunaratne

Chamika Karunaratne would be expected to showcase excellent performances with both bat and ball. The bowling all-rounder has the reputation of picking up wickets when needed and is also a good striker of the ball, which makes him a complete cricketing package. Karunaratne’s skills would be put to test in the upcoming tournament as Sri Lanka eye their sixth Asia Cup crown.

5. Dinesh Chandimal

Dinesh Chandimal might have blown hot and cold throughout his cricketing career, but the former skipper can single-handedly take the game away from the opposition. Chandimal might not have impressed much in the shortest format this year, but he was in outstanding form during the home Test series against Australia and Pakistan and Sri Lanka would be hoping that he carries the same momentum into the Asia Cup 2022.